A major new development has been proposed for the fields along Airport St. between Pillar Ridge and Princeton. The project is called Big Wave.
Big Wave Wellness Center, on the smaller southern parcel next to Princeton, would provide housing for up to 50 developmentally disabled adults and 20 caretakers, along with a community center, indoor pool, and potential employment opportunities for the residents. There would be parking for 73 cars for staff and visitors. There would also be a 2-story commercial storage building with 20,000 sq.ft.
Big Wave Office Park, on the larger northern parcel next to Pillar Ridge, would consist of four 3-story warehouse-style office buildings, 51 ft. tall, with 225,000 square feet of office space, and parking for 650 - 800 cars.
Here is an excellent video overview of the project.
Traffic impacts include 3,800 car trips per day to/from the site. There are 7 acres of parking with 5 entrances along Airport St.
Water for the site is limited to an agricultural well which draws from the same aquifer as the Pillar Ridge wells and the airport wells that supply most of Montara/Moss Beach. They hope to get an exception to the Local Coastal Plan to connect to Coastside County Water District. Otherwise they plan to treat and use their ag well water.
Project Approval Process: The project requires a certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR) before the County can approve it. The project also requires a Coastal Development Permit which can be appealed to the CA Coastal Commission. The public comment period for EIR Scoping (what issues should be addressed in the EIR) was Nov '08 - Mar '09. Public comment on the Draft EIR was during Nov/Dec 2009.
Stay Informed: To receive email updates on issues directly affecting Pillar Ridge residents, including the Big Wave project, send an email to Lisa.Ketcham@comcast.net.
Photos
Draft EIR Public Comment Nov/Dec 2009
Pillar Ridge Homeowners Association
CA Coastal Commission staff
Committee for Green Foothills
Committee for Green Foothills attorney
Rick Harding (economics)
League for Coastside Protection
Sierra Club
Iris Rogers (aesthetics)
Yuri Daher (waterfront zoning)
Montara Water & Sanitary District
Granada Sanitary District
Dot Norris, Marine Biologist
Midcoast Community Council
Len Erickson (visuals)
C/CAG Airport Land Use Committee
Save the Waves Coalition
California Pilots Association
Public Comment Letters to the County: EIR Scoping 11/08 - 3/09
11/18/08 Pillar Ridge Homeowners Association
12/5/08 Committee for Green Foothills
12/5/08 Sierra Club
2/14/09 Midcoast Community Council
3/9/09 Committee for Green Foothills
3/26/09 Joint Pillar Ridge and Seal Cove resident meeting letter (99 signatures)
Links :
Browse and download the Big Wave Facilities Plan as individual pdf's from Coastsider
Big Wave site
Oct. 2009 draft Environmental Impact Report
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) weighs in on Big Wave 12/08
Letter to HMB Review by Merrill Bobele, a resident of El Granada, retired teacher, and parent of a developmentally disabled adult daughter. 12/08
Coastsider article on Big Wave June 2006 pre-application workshop. At that time the project was smaller (2-story office park).
A History of the Big Wave parcel with aerial photos posted 3/09
Grading and imported soil without permit at Big Wave site June 2006 -- Routine agricultural practices or pre-development by agriculture?
Opinion: Don't lock developmentally disabled out of sight, by Ruth Palmer